Firearm



BEST AVAILABLE J. c. GARAND FIREARM June 5, 1 5.

Filed March 16, 1939- v Inventnr LIUhTL ELEar'and .ij/., I At r ne S June 5' J. c. GARAND 1,

FIREARM Filed March 16, i939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. C. GARAND FIREARM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 5, 15.

Filed March 16, 1959 In. ventnr duhn I3- Sarah :1

Att'ur'ngys June 5, l5. J. c. GARAND 2,377,338

FIREARM Fiied March 16, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 figjli EI- TIL] l'nve'nt ur John [L Garancl A turnays ented .lune l .iohn 0. Gal-and; Springfield, Mass...

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it FFlCE :1 the Government of the United States, re resented by the Secretary of War and his successors Application time it, 1939, Serial No. scam as @laims. (ci. t2-2) (Granted under the act of? March 3, 1883, as

ended April 30, 1228; 3'10 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to line of any royalty thereon.

The subject of this invention is a firearm and the invention is intended, primarily. to incorporate improvements in the firearm disclosed in my Patent No. 1,892,1i1 of December 27, 1932.

For the purpose of securing greater leverage to more firmly clamp the receiver and trigger guard and hold the stock therebetween, an element of the clamp is associated with the trigger guard.

The hammer has been designed to prevent firing of a cartridge with the breech bolt unlocked and to start movement of the hammer towards cocked position by unlocking movement of the bolt. The hammer is held by a novel auxiliary scar and it is arranged to be cocked by a trigger guard as well as to insure that the trigger guard is in locked position.

Further assurance of safety of the arm is secured by a novel safety member which locks the hammer in cocked position and also looks the trigger against movement.

When the last cartridge in a clip has been fired it is necessary in order that the clip may be ejected and a new clip inserted, that the bolt be held in retracted position. For this purpose a novel latch is provided adapted to hold the operating rod in retracted position at the proper time.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 1a are longitudinal sectional views of the gun with the breech bolt in retracted position;

Figs. 2 and 8 are views respectively in plan and front elevation of the spacer plate;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gun with the breech bolt in battery;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views respectively in side and front elevation of a reversible cartridge clip;

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views in partial section illustrating steps in assembling, locking and unlocking the trigger guard and receiver;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the receiver;

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line lt-lt of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line lt-lt of Fig. 12;

Figs. 16 and 1'7 are views in side elevation, with parts in section of the firing mechanism and showing the parts respectively in cocked and in fired position;

"Figs; 18 and 19 are views respectively in side and front elevation of the auxiliary sear; v

Fig. 20 is a view in side elevation of the firing mechanism with the parts in the safe position;

Figs. 21 and 22 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Fig. in;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the muzzle of the barrel;

Figs. 24 and 25 are views respectively in side and front elevation of the gas cylinder plug;

Fig. 26 is a sectional view on the corresponding line of Fig. 4;

Figs. 27 and 28 are views respectively in rear and side elevation of the bullet guide;

Figs. 29 and 30 are views respectively in plan and side elevation of the operating rod catch;

Fig. 31 is a plan view of the follower;

Fig. 32 is a view in side elevation with parts in section of the follower and follower slide in disconnected relation;

Flg. 33 is a plan view of the front end of the breech bolt;

Fig. 34 is a sectional view on the corresponding lines of Fig. 33;

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary view of the right side of the receiver.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the gun comprises a receiver A having its front end arranged for threaded attachment of a gun barrel B. A band 5 (Fig. 1a) encircling the barrel and held in place intermediate the ends of the barrel by a pin 6 is provided in its upper part with an arcuate opening l for receiving the adjoining ends of a rear hand guard C and a front hand guard D. The rear guard C covers the upper part and sides of the barrel and is confined against the receiver by the band 5. A band 8 encircling the rear part of the guard C and engaged in a recess therein has inturned ends 9-9 which retain the band in place and snap into grooves l0lll in the barrel (Fig. 14)

The front hand guard D likewise covers the upper part of the barrel but its sides extend downwardly below the barrel to form a compartment for housing other elements of the gun. A metal spacer plate ll (Figs. 2 and 21) is disposed between the sides of the front guard and is positioned to be directly under the barrel. The plate is conveniently secured by means of outwardly bent ears, the ears l2-|l2 on the rear end engaging prepared recesses in the rear end of the guard and the ears l3lil engaging indented portions of a ferrule It (Fig. 21) fitted on the front end of the guard and embracing the barrel.

The front guard D is held in position against the band by means of a ring i3 (Fig. 1a) which bears against the ferrule I4 and is carried on the rear end of a gas cylinder E. A socket member 13 coaxial with the ring [5 is carried on the front end of the cylinder and is threaded onto the front end of the barrel where it is held in place in a known manner by a front sight I! which enters a slot in the barrel. .The cylinder and socket member extend beyond the muzzle of the barrel and the extended portion is formed with a slot which is closed by a plug I3 that is assembled by a movement transversely of the axis of the cylinder. The sides and the bottom of the plug (Figs. 23-25) are provided with a groove 13 which interengages a U-shaped tongue in the slot and insures a close fit. The plug 18 is secured in place by a screw 2|. The inner face 22 of the plug below the bullet passage is spaced from the adjacent face of the cylinder to provide a passage through which a portion of the gases of discharge are directed into the cylinder.

A piston 23 (Fig. 1a) working in the cylinder E is secured to the front end of a hollow, boltoperating rod 24 which has an offset bar 25 (Fig. 14) on its rear end. A driving spring 23 for normally holding the rod in forward position is enclosed in the operating rod and is confined between the piston and a compensating spring 21 which is mounted on and seated on a follower rod 28 whose function will be described later.

The receiver A is formed with spaced magazine side plates 23-29 (Figs. 1 and 13) the central portion of each side plate being cut away to reduce weight. A trigger housing F (Figs. 16, 1'7 and 20) comprises a bottom plate 33 with a wide front part 30a adapted to form a closure for the lower end of the magazine, an upstanding ear 3| on the right side of the plate adjacent its rear end, a left side plate 32, and a front plate 33 which is positioned at the front of the left side plate and a short distance forwardly of the rear of the wide part 33a of the. bottom plate. The trigger housing is assembled to the receiver by a movement perpendicular to the axis of the receiver, the front plate of the housing entering between the magazine side plates and forming a rear wall for the magazine (Fig. 15) The front plate 33 has a tongue 34 adapted to enter a groove 35 (Fig. 12) in the right side plate.

The means for locking the trigger housing to the receiver (Figs. 7-10 and 16) is associated with a trigger guard 33 having its front end formed into spaced arms 31-31 straddling the trigger housing and mounted on a pivot pin 33 carried by the housing. Each arm 31 is provided with an outwardly extending stud 33 positioned below the axis of rotation. During the assembly of the trigger housing and the receiver, the trigger guard is swung about the pin 33 to lowered or unlocking position and this disposes the studs in line with the vertical entrance of angled slots (see also Fig. 12) provided on the inner face of each of the magazine side plates 23. The horizontal portion of each angled slot provides a shoulder 4| and opposite cam surface 42 and 33. In swinging the trigger guard 33 to locking position, the studs 33 engage the cam surfaces 42 to force the trigger housing and the receiver together, and then ride onto the locking, the studs 33 engage the cam surfaces 43 and initiate movement of the trigger housing away from the receiver. The rear end of the trigger guard is formed into a catch 4| which maps over the rear edge of the bottom plate 30.

Referring to Fig. 13 the front portions of the magazine side plates 23 have their lower edges disposed within the bottom plate 30a and these parts are in contact through beveled surfaces indicated at 45.

The stock G does not carry any of the operative parts of the gun but instead it is carried by these parts and is independent of the rear and front hand guards C and D. The stock has the usual opening to accommodate the magazine of the receiver and the trigger housing and on its front end it is provided with a ferrule 43 which has a roughened or corrugated inner wall 43a (Fig. in) for firmly engaging the wood of the stock when the split arms 46b of the ferrule are brought together by the binding screw 430 which carries a swivel 46d (Fig. 22). The ferrule includes an arcuate extension 41 (Figs. 1a and 22) adapted to seat between depending curved fingers 33-43 on the band 5. The assembly is made by inclining the stock relative to the receiver and then moving it forwardly. The stock and the receiver are then brought together to occupy the relationship shown in Figs. 12-13, the wood closely fitting against the magazine side plates 23. The trigger housing is now assembled to the receiver as previously explained and serves to clamp the stock in place. As seen in Figure 13 the opposed stock engaging faces 23a and 33b of the receiver and trigger housing, respectively, converge outwardly and thus grip the stock on an outer surface tending to reinforce the stock against lateral separation from the magazine side walls and prevent splitting of the stock under com-bat conditions. The marginal sides 30b of the bottom plate 30a enter recesses 43 in the stock and support the stock without introducing any irregularity of exterior contour.

A hammer 53 pivotally mounted on the pin 33 has a short arm 5| (Figs. 16, 17, 20) on its lower end adapted to engage a stud 52 carried by the trigger guard. This construction and arrangement has several purposes. The hammer ill must be in the cooked position (Fig. 16) in order to remove the trigger housing group from the receiver. If the hammer is in fired position as seen in Fig. 17 a downward swinging movement of the trigger guard 33 about its pivot 38 will cause the stud 32 to engage the arm 5! and move the hammer to cocked position. This arrangement therefore permits recocking of the hammer at any time without unbreeching the bolt.

. In the situation where the catch 44 is not engaged with the bottom plate 30 and the hammer is released from cocked position the short arm SI of the hammer engages the stud 52 and moves the trigger guard about its pivot to cause the catch 44 to engage the bottom plate 30. The energy thus absorbed will retard the hammer sufficiently to prevent firing. In any event the mechanism will be locked.

The hammer is provided near its striking face with an offset forwardly extending finger 33 adapted, when the hammer moves into firing position, to enter a cam slot 51 (Fig. 12) in the rear end of the breech bolt H to insure rotation of the bolt into complete locked position before the striking face of the hammer engages the firing pin 33 carried by the bolt. During rotahon of the bolt to unlocked position the cam slot ducts on the finger to initiat movement or the hammer to cocked position.

The upper end of the hammer includes a pair of spaced rearwardly extending fingers W-tt, each extremity having a front projection bl and a rear projection be.

The trigger b9 extending through an opening in the bottom plate 3B, is pivotally mounted on a pin W (see also Fig. 12) mounted in the trigger housing. The upper part of the trigger is adapted to enter the space between the fingers it of the hammer and it carries a transversely disposed main sear ill for engaging the front projections E1 to hold the hammer in cocked position. An angled auxiliary sear (32 (Figs. 18-19) mounted on a pin 83 carried by the trigger above its axis of rotation represented by the pin 6, has a vertical portion with a lip 65 for engaging the rear projections 6b to hold the hammer cocked in the event the hammer arrives incocked position before the trigger is released. The horizontal portion of the auxiliary sear is bifurcated to straddle the trigger and each end terminates in a reduced projection 66 which enters a groove 61 (Fig. W) in the headed end of a tubular housing 68.

The housing 53 has a headed end with apertured ears t9fiil which are loosely mounted on the trigger pivot pin 6d and it is to be noted that the auxiliary sear engages the housing above the pin I30 (Fig. 17). A spring it within the housing and seated on its headed end acts on a. plunger H which engages the hammer above the pivot pin it). The spring exerts pressure on the trigger tending to hold it in normal position and likewise exerts pressure on the hammer tending to move it to firing position. The connection between the housing and auxiliary sear W normally maintains the lip 65 of the sear 62 in engagement with the rear face of the trigger so that when the trigger is pressed this sear is displaced forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 20 and the lip db will overlie the rear projection W on the hammer.

A safety lever l2 (Fig. 16, 17, and 20) extending through an opening in the bottom plate 30 has a single stud 13 whereby it is pivotally mounted in the left side plate 32. The upper part of the lever l2 fits in a cut away portion in the left side of the hammer and it has a hook M adapted. when. the lever is rotated with the hammer in cocked position, to engage a shoulder E of the hammer, camming the hammer rearwardly away from the sear to the position shown in Figure 20 and thus preventing movement of the hammer to firing position.

The lever l2 also has a rearwardly extending projection it (Fig. 20) for engaging the main sear (ii of the trigger to prevent movement of the trigger out of position for the main sear to engage with the hammer. The outer side of the lever 12 is formed with a cam surface H which is engaged by the upper short arm 18 of a double armed spring and held in forward or off position. The spring arm '18 has a bent end W for engaging the lip lla of the cam to hold the lever if in the rear or on position (Fig. 20). The lower long arm til of the spring extends forwardly into the magazine chamber and serves to eject the cartridge clip I. The double spring has its rear end mounted on a stud ti in the left side plate 32 and is confined thereon by the trigger Fig. 12).

The bolt H is similar'in construction and operation to the bolt of my prior Patent No. 1,892,141.

It has a concaz'e lower face t2 so that in the position of full recoil it may be inclined to the axis of the barrel with its rear and depressed, the face 82 riding on the hammer as seen in Fig. 1. The rear end of the bolt is guided in a downwardly facing track formed in the top rear part of the receiver. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 12, the track has two intersecting surfaces, the forward surface being designated 2M and the rearward surface being 201. During reciprocation, the rear end of the bolt H is pressed into sliding engagement with the track by the hammer, as shown in Fig. l. The forward track surface is constructed and arranged to guide the rear end of the bolt along a straight line path parallel to the axial prolongation of the barrel and the rearward track surface is constructed and arranged to guide the rear end of the bolt along a straight line path departing angularly from the first mentioned path. This construction makes it possible to lower the rear portion of the receiver with a consequent lowering of the rear sight.

At the front of the bolt (Figs. 33-34) a cartridge extractor 83 has an integral pivot pin M which extends through the bolt and passes through a notch 85 in the firing pin 86 and through a notch M in a cartridge ejector 88. By virtue of this arrangement the pin 86 limits reciprocal movement of the firing pin 88 and ejector dd and holds them against rotation. A spring pressed plunger W is provided for yieldingly holding the extractor 83 in cartridge engaging position and a spring M (Fig. 4) is provided for moving the ejector lid.

The front of the bolt has wings as in my prior Patent No. 1,892,141, for locking the bolt in battery, the left wing at (Fig. 12) riding in the groove 92 in the receiver during recoil and the right wing 93 riding on the upper surface of the right side of the receiver. The left wall of the receiver has a groove M (Fig. 11) for receiving and guiding the rib 9b of the cartridge clip I when'inserted in the magazine. This groove also receives a lug be on the rear end of the bolt when the bolt is rotated into locking position and the engagement of the lug with the walls of the groove insures a good fit of the rear of the bolt when in battery. The forward wall 91 of the groove 9% serves an additional purpose as will be described hereinafter.

The magazine side plates 29 have aligned grooves 98 (Figs. 11 and 15) the one on the left plate being in prolongation of the groove 9d, the interruption being caused by the groove 92. The grooves 98 receive the ribs 95 of the clip. Directly in front of the grooves '98 are grooves 9% for receiving projections iilii on the reversible clip I, the projections on the left side of the clip being always lowermost and adapted when the clip is being ejected by spring W to engage the wall 91, which applies to the clip a component of force to the right. Since theclip is impelled in a substantially vertical direction by the spring Bil the resultant direction ofmotion of the clip will be to the right at an angle to the vertical. The clip is normally held in the gun by a clip latch ii)! (Figs. 4, 12, and 13) which is mounted externally of the receiver on a pin Hi2 and has a finger m3 at its rear end projecting into the receiver for engaging a notch in the clip and a finger 0M (Fig. 13) at its front end which projects into the receiver for association with mechanism which serves to rock the latch and move it out of engagement with the clip. The latch normally holds the clip in the magazine under influence of a spring III! acting on a thumbpiece of the latch.

The side plates 29 are also provided with grooves I06 for slidably receiving tongues III! on opposite sides of a follower I33. The follower (Figs. 31 and 32) carries a laterally shiftable slide I33 which is adapted to engage the lowermost round in the clip Fig. 13. The front part of the slide has a transverse rib I III on its under side which is inserted by a press fit into a groove I I I in the follower and the follower is provided with an aperture II2 to permit the insertion of an instrument for forcing the rib out of the groove. On the under side of the rear end of the slide there is an integral angled lug II3 which is inserted in an aperture I I4 in the follower, the forward part of the lug being disposed under the wall of the follower at the front of the aperture II4. In assembling, the lug is first inserted in the aperture H4 and the rib III! is then pressed into the groove.

The under side of the follower (Fig. 13) is formed with longitudinal spaced grooves I I5--I I5 for slidably receiving laterally extending pins III on the rear end of an angled follower arm III (Figs. 1, 4, 13 and 26). The front end of the follower arm has spaced ears mounted on a pivot pin II8 mounted in the receiver (Fig. 26). The angled portion of the follower arm I IT has lateral studs II! for engagement in the bifurcated and forked ends of the follower rod 23.

A bullet guide I (Figs. 26-28) on the pin II3 between the spaced ears of the follower arm I! is provided with a slot I2I through which the follower ann and rod 28 pass and are guided in their movement. A foot I22 on the rear lower end of the bullet guide is disposed between the side plates 23 and has laterally projecting shoulders I23 inserted in slots I24 in each side plate.

An operating rod catch I25 (Figs. 2930) mounted on the pin II8 (Fig. 26) on the outer sides of the follower arm III has a forwardly extending portion formed with a transverse slot I26 adapted, when the forward portion is elevated, to engage a transverse lug I21 (Figs. 1 and 4) on the operating rod 24. The extremity of the forward portion is formed with a slot for receiving a shoulder I 28 on the follower rod 23 and it provides for a cam surface I29 which is engaged by the shoulder I28 to elevate the front end of the catch when the follower rod 23 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the last round in the clip has been fired. This action causes the slot I23 to receive the lug I21 and hold the operating rod 24 in retracted position.

The catch I25 includes a rearwardly extending arm I 30 whose bent end is disposed above the finger I04 of the clip latch and is adapted to rock the clip latch and disengage the finger I03 from the clip so that the clip may be ejected by spring 80.

The catch I2! is provided with an opening in its forward part for receiving an accelerator lever which is mounted on a pin I3I and consists of a depending arm I32 engageable with the wall of the catch to limit rotation of the lever in one direction and a rearwardly extending arm I33 disposed underneath an extension I 34 on the bullet guide I20 and adapted to fulcrum on the edge of the extension. The rear end of the arm I33 is in the path of movement of a shoulder I 35 (Figs. 4 and 30) on the follower arm II I so that when the follower arm is fully depressed as by insertion of a clip the shoulder raises the rear end of arm I33 which mlcrums on the extension and produces a lowering of the pivot pin I31. As a consequence the catch is rocked to release the operating rod and to release the clip latch to clip engaging position.

The operating rod 24 (Figs. 12 and 26) is connected to the bolt as in my prior Patent No. 1,892,141 and has a cam groove I34 in its inner face for engagement with a cam member I31 on the bolt. The rear end of the rod 24 is provided with a lug I33 (Figs. 12 and 13) which rides in a guide groove I 33 in the receiver and has its lower end confined by a lip I40. The upper wall of the groove is cut away as at I H (Fig. 35) to permitthe rear end of the rod to be raised in order to move the lug I33 clear of the confining lip and disconnect the rod 24 from the bolt.

I claim:

1. In a gun, a receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, a rear hand guard covering the upper part of the barrel and having its front end inserted in the fixed band, a stock having an opening for the receiver and having its front end inserted in the fixed band, and a front hand guard having its rear end inserted in the fixed band.

2. In a gun, a receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, 9. pair of depending incurved fingers on the band, a hand guard covering the upper part of the barrel and having its front end inserted in the fixed band, a stock having an opening for the receiver and having an arcuate extension on its front end inserted between the depending fingers.

3. In a gun, a barrel, a band fixed to the barrel. 8. hand guard covering the top of the barrel and having sides extending downwardly to form a housing beneath the barrel, the rear end of the hand guard being inserted in the fixed band, a ferrule on the front end of the hand guard and having a circular portion embracing the barrel, and a gas cylinder mounted on the front end of the barrel and engaging the ferrule to hold the guard in engagement with the fixed band.

4. In a gun, a barrel, a band fixed to the barrel, a hand guard covering the top of the barrel and having sides extending downwardly to form a housing beneath the barrel, the rear end of the hand guard being inserted in the fixed band, a ferrule on the front end of the hand guard and having a circular portion embracing the barrel, and means attached to the barrel and engaging the ferrule to hold the hand guard in engagement with the fixed band.

5. In a gun, a barrel, a hand guard covering the upper part of the barrel and having sides extending downwardly below the barrel, a ferrule on the front end of the hand guard, and a metal plate disposed between the sides of the hand guard and positioned underneath the barrel, the front of said plate engaging the ferrule.

6. In a gun, a barrel, a hand guard covering the upper part of the barrel and having sides extending downwardly below the barrel, and a metal plate disposed between the sides of the hand guard and positioned underneath the barrel.

7. In a gun, a receiver including magazine side plates, each side plate provided internally with an angled slot, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, a stock having an opening for the receiver and having its front end supported by the fixed band, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the magazine side plates and confining the stock in place, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the trigger housing, studs on the trigger guard insertable in the angled slots of the magazine side plates and operable on rotation of the guard to clamp the trigger housing, the stock and the receiver together.

8. In a gun, a receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, a stock fitting on the receiver and having its front end supported by the fixed band, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a forwardly projecting magazine floor plate on said housing and having means for engaging the outer faces of the receiver and the lower face of the stock, and a trigger guard pivotally carried by the housing and cooperating with means on the receiver for clamping the trigger housing, the stock and the receiver together.

9. In a gun, a receiver, a stock fitting on the receiver, and a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, and a magazine floor plate on said housing engaging the outsides of the receiver and having clamping engagement with the lower face of the stock at the sides of the receiver.

10. In a, gun, a receiver including magazine side plates, each side plate provided internally with an angled slot, a stock fitted on the receiver, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the magazine side plates, the outer sides of the side plates having beveled engagement with the housing, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the trigger housing, studs on the trigger guard insertable in the angled slots of the magazine side plates and operable on rotation of the guard to clamp the trigger housing, the stock and the receiver together.

11. In a gun, a receiver including magazine side plates, each side plate provided internally with an angled slot, a stock fitted on the receiver, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the magazine side plates, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the trigger housing, studs on the trigger guard insertable in the angled slots of the magazine side plates and operable on rotation of the guard to clamp the trigger housing, the stock and the receiver together.

12. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the housing, studs on the guard cooperating with angled slots on the receiver for clamping the housing and receiver together and a catch on the guard engageable with the housing to retain the guard in clamping position.

13. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the housing, studs on the guard cooperating with angled slots on the receiver for clamping the housing and receiver together.

14. In a, gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, opposed outwardly converging clamping surfaces on the sides of the receiver and trigger housing, a tock engaged between and cooperable with the clamping surfaces, and a trigger guard operable to clamp the receiver and trigger housing together upon the stock.

15. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, opposed outwardly converging clamping surfaces on the sides of the receiver and trigger housing, a stock engaged between and cooperate with the clamping surfaces, a trigger guard operable to clamp the receiver and trigger housing together upon the stock, and means for holding the trigger guard in clamping position.

16. In a gun, a housing, a hammer pivotally mounted in the housing, a safety lever pivotally mounted in the housing and movable into engagement with the hammer to lock it in cocked position, the under side of the lever having a cam surface and a, lip, a spring acting on the cam surface to normally hold the safety lever out of engagement with the hammer and engageable with the lip to hold the safety lever in engagement with the hammer.

17. In a gun, a housing, an element of a firing mechanism in the housing, a safety lever for holding the firing mechanism against firing movement, a spring having one arm engageable with the lever to hold it in engagement with the firing mechanism and having another arm extending out of the housing and arranged for ejecting a cartridge clip.

18. In a gun, a receiver including spaced ma azine side plates each having a slot in its front face, a pin carried by the receiver, a bullet guide mounted on the pin and having a foot disposed between the side plates and shoulders on the guide inserted in the slots of the side plates.

19. In a gun, a receiver including spaced magazine side plates, a pin carried by the receiver, a bullet guide mounted on the pin and engaging the side plates, said guide formed with a slot, and a lever pivotally mounted on the pin and extend ing through the slot in the guide.

20. In a gun, a receiver, a reciprocable breech bolt in the receiver, a gas actuated operating rod for moving the bolt, a return spring on the rod, a follower rod associated with the return spring, a catch pivotally carried by the receiver and having a cam surface engageable by the follower rod after the last round has been fired to rotat the catch, and means on the catch for engaging the operating rod to hold it in retracted position.

21. In a gun, a receiver, a clip holding latch carried by the receiver, a catch pivotally carried by the receiver and including an arm for moving the latch to clip releasing position, a lever p otally mounted in the catch, means for fulcruming the lever, a follower arm pivotally mounted in the receiver and adapted to be depressed when a loaded cartridge clip is inserted in the receiver, said arm when depressed engageable with the lever to rock it about the fulcrum and rotate the catch to release the clip holding latch.

22. In a gun a receiver, a reciprocable breech bolt in the receiver, a bolt operating rod, a clip holding latch, a catch having means for holdin the rod in retracted position and for moving the latch to clip releasing position, a lever pivotally mounted in the catch, means for fulcrumin the lever, a follower arm pivotally mounted in the re ceiver and adapted to be depressed when a loaded cartridge clip is inserted in the receiver, said arm when depressed engageable with the lever to rock it about the fulcrum and rotate the catch to release the rod and the latch.

23. For use with a cartridge clip, having ribs on its rear end and having a projection on one side forwardly of a rib and near its lower end, a gun receiver having aligned grooves for receiving the ribs of the clip, said receiver also having means forwardly of one of the aligned grooves to receive the projection and a wall of the receiver overhanging the projection receiving means at the forward upper end of the corresponding aligned groove, said overhanging wall being adapted to be engaged by the projection on the clip when the clip is ejected to cause the clip to be deflected to one side.

24. For use with a cartridge clip having ribs on its rear end and having a projection on one side forwardly of a rib and near its lower end, a gun receiver having aligned grooves for receiving the ribs of the clip, said receiver also having a groove forwardly of one of the aligned grooves and overhung by a wall of the receiver at the forward upper end of the corresponding aligned groove, said overhanging wall adapted to be engaged by the projection on the clip when the clip is ejected to cause the clip to be deflected to one side.

25. In a gun, a receiver having a magazine side wall with a cartridge clip receiving groove at its rear end, a breech bolt reciprocable in the receiver and rotatable to locked position and a lug on the rear end of the bolt movable into the groove when the bolt is rotated into locked position.

26. In combination with a gun barrel, a gas cylinder including a socket member for receiving the muzzle end of the barrel, said cylinder and socket member extending beyond the barrel and having a slot open at the top, the side and bottom walls defining the slot having a tongue, a plug having a bullet passage inserted in the slot, said plug having a groove for receiving the tongue and having its inner face below the bullet passage spaced from the adjacent face of the cylinder to form a gas passage, and means for securing the plug in place.

27. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a trigger guard pivotally carried by the trigger housing, a lug on the guard engageable with the receiver to clamp the receiver and trigger housing together, means for holding the trigger guard in clamping position, an abutment on the trigger guard, a hammer ivotally mounted in the housing, and an arm on said hammer engageable by the abutment to cook the hammer and engageable with the abutment to move the trigger guard into clamping position.

28. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing, a

' trigger guard pivotally carried by the housing and having a lug engageable with the receiver to lock the housing and receiver in assembled relation, an abutment on the guard, a hammer pivotally carried by the housing and having an arm engageable by the abutment to cock the hammer and engageable with the abutment to move the trigger guard into locking position.

29. In a gun, a pivotally mounted hammer, a trigger having a main sear for holding the hammer in cocked position, a pivot pin for the trigger, an auxiliary sear pivotally mounted on the trigger and operable to hold the hammer when the main sear is in inoperative position, a spring seat loosely mounted on the pivot pin of the trigger and engaging the auxiliary sear, and a spring seated on the spring seat and acting on the hammer.

30. In a gun, a pivotally mounted hammer, a trigger having an arm with a main sear for releasably holding the hammer in cocked position, a pivot pin for mounting the trigger, an auxiliary sear pivotally mounted on the arm of the tri er between the trigger pin and the main scar and operable to hold the hammer when the trigger is retained, after firing, in position for release of the main sear from the hammer, and resilient means acting between the hammer and a portion of the auxiliary sear between the trigger pivot and the auxiliary sear pivot to constrain both the auxiliary soar and the main sear toward hammer enga ing Position.

31. In a gun, a receiver including magazine side plates, each side plate provided internally with an angled slot, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, a stock having an opening for the receiver and having its front end supported by the fixed band, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the magazine side plates with the stock in place on the receiver, said housing confining the stock in place, a latch pivotally carried by the trigger housing, studs on the latch insertable in the angled slots of the magezine side plates and operable on rotation of the latch to clamp the trigger housing, the stock and the receiver together.

32. In a gun, a receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a band fixed to the barrel, a rearwardly facing recess in the band, a stock fitting on the receiver and having its front end received in the recess and removable therefrom without disturbing the fixed relation of the band, a trigger housing, cooperating tongue and groove means on housing and receiver guiding the housing for sliding movement transversely of the receiver into clamping engagement with the stock, and a latch pivotally carried by the trigger housing and cooperating with means on the receiver to clamp the receiver, the stock and trigger housing together.

33. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a transverse groove in the receiver, a tongue on the trigger housing slidably received in the groove for guiding these members toward each other during assembly, opposed, outwardly converging surfaces on the sides of the receiver and trigger housing, a stock engaged between and cooperable with the converging surfaces, and a. latch pivotally carried by the housing and engageable with the receiver to maintain the assembly.

34. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the receiver, opposed, outwardly convergin surfaces on the receiver and trigger housing, a stock engaged between and cooperable with the converging surfaces, and a latch pivotally carried by the housing and engageable with the receiver to maintain the assembly.

35. In a gun, a receiver, a transverse groove in the receiver, a trigger housing having sliding engagement with the groove in the receiver, opposed outwardly converging surfaces on the receiver and trigger housing, a stock clampingly engaged between and cooperable with the converging surfaces whereby the stock is reinforced against splitting, a latch pivotally carried by the housing and engageable with the receiver to maintain the assembly, and means on the latch engageable with the housing to retain the latch.

36. In a gun, a receiver having depending magazine side plates each with a beveled lower extremity, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a forwardly extending magazine floor plate on the housing and laterally engaging the beveled extremities, and means for maintaining the receiver and trigger housing in assembled relation.

37. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, a latch pivotally carried by the housing and operable to clamp the receiver and housing together, means for holding the latch in clamping position, an abutment on the latch, a hammer pivotally mounted in the housing, and an arm on said hammer engageable by the abutment to cock the hammer and engageable with the abutment to move the latch into clamping position.

38. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing, a latch carried by the housing and having a stud engageable with the receiver to lock the housing and receiver in assembled relation, an abutment as'raese on the latch, and a hammer pivotally carried by the housing and having an arm engageable by the abutment to cook the hammer and engageable with the abutment to move the latch into locking position.

39. In a gun, a receiver, a trigger housing, a latch carried by the housing and having a stud engageable with the receiver to lock the housing and receiver in assembled relation, and a hammer pivotally carried by the housing and having a cocked and a fired position, said hammer being engageable with the latch to hold the latch in looking position when the hammer is in fired position.

40. In a gun, a housing having a wall defining the rear end of a magazine chamber, a spring having a bent rear end anchored in the housing in rear of said wall and extending forwardly of said wall for ejecting a cartridge clip.

41. In a. gun, a receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a breech bolt reciprocable in the receiver and rotatable to and from locked position, said bolt being coaxial with the barrel in locked position, the rear end of the bolt reciprocating along a path defined by two intersecting straight lines, the first of which, in recoil, is parallel to the axial prolongation of the barrel and the second of which departs angularly from the first, to bring the bolt to a position inclined with respect to the axis of the barrel when the bolt is in position of full recoil.

42. In a gun, a. receiver, a barrel connected to the receiver, a breech bolt reciprocable in the receiver and rotatable to and from locked position, a hammer pivotally connected to the gun at a pivot point below the axis of said barrel for swinging movement to engage the rear end of the bolt when the bolt is in locked position, said bolt being coaxial with the barrel when in locked position, the top rear part of said receiver defining a downwardly facing guiding track for the rear end of the bolt, said hammer having an upwardly facing surface for engaging the lower surface of said bolt, means for pressing said hammer into enga ement with the lower surface of the bolt during reciprocation, said track having two intersecting guiding faces, the first of which is constructed and arranged to guide the rear end of the bolt along a straight line path parallel to the axial prolongation of the barrel and the second of which is constructed and arranged to guide the rear end of the bolt along a straight line path departing angularly from said first mentioned path, to bring the bolt to a position inclined with respect to the axis of the barrel when the bolt is in position of full recoil.

43. In a gun, a receiver, a stock assembled to the receiver, a trigger housing assembled to the receiver, opposed, outwardly converging surfaces on the receiver and trigger housing, said stock being engaged between and cooperable with the converging surfaces, and a latch pivotally carried by the trigger housing and engageable with the receiver to maintain the assembly in clamped relation to the stock.

JOHN C. G 

